With no rain in sight and temperatures scorching, Stage 3 water-use restrictions could be announced as early as Monday, the Edwards Aquifer Authority said Wednesday.

When that happens, landscape sprinkling will be allowed only once every two weeks, rather than weekly, unless by a hand-held hose, and restrictions for hotels and golf courses would be tightened. All other Stage 2 restrictions would remain in effect.

Sweltering, triple-digit temperatures were forecast for the area through the weekend, with little to no chance of rain through next week, the National Weather Service said.

EAA spokesman Roland Ruiz said the hot, dry weather makes the more stringent restrictions likely in a matter of days for users of the Edwards Aquifer. A spokeswoman at SAWS agreed. The city-owned utility has been drawing from a supplemental underground storage aquifer to stave off demand from the Edwards and plans to increase pumping from it today.

The restrictions would affect Bexar and Medina counties and parts of Atascosa, Comal, Guadalupe, Hays and Caldwell counties.

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Although the Edwards Aquifer is not at its lowest recorded level, it would mark the first time Stage 3 restrictions were reached under the current Aquifer Management Plan, Ruiz said. Criteria for the restrictions have become more strict over time, he said.

The legal trigger for the restrictions is the water level at the J-17 well in San Antonio, which has averaged 643.1 feet above mean sea level for the past 10 days. On Wednesday, it was measured at 640.8 feet above mean sea level. Stage 3 restrictions are triggered when the 10-day average drops below 640 feet.

Through Saturday, high temperatures of 100 degrees are expected. Sunday's forecast high is 99.

Border cities are even hotter. Laredo will see highs of 109 Friday through Sunday, and Eagle Pass is expected to top out at a sizzling 110 degrees Friday and Saturday, the National Weather Service predicted.

NWS forecaster Chris Morris said rain was possible next week but it won't constitute drought relief, which is still a long way off.

“Some of the forecast models are showing a possibility of this high (pressure) migrating to the east, and if that happens, we will be on the backside of it and showers could form,” Morris said. “Still, rainfall totals will be spotty at best.”

The summer demand for water in dry years is driven by people watering their lawns. Burt Oatman, manager at the Grove Nursery on Austin Highway, said drought-tolerant plants like lantana and salvia are growing more popular among his customers while thirsty plants like azaleas and impatiens sit on shelves.

“I can't even give impatiens away right now,” Oatman said. “People won't buy them because they need a ton of water.”

Oatman also recommended residents refrain from planting new lawns unless necessary to sell a house. He himself is planning to install some new grass — but not until things get wetter.

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Annual aquifer lows

Wednesday's Edwards Aquifer level at the J-17 well was the lowest of 2011, and it is expected to continue to fall. Here's how it compares to the lowest aquifer levels in each of the past four years:

2011(Wednesday)640.8 feet

2010(Aug. 18)667.1 feet

2009(July 2)640.3 feet

2008(June 27)657.3 feet

2007(March 11)661.9 feet

Source: San Antonio Water System

“Common sense has to prevail,” Oatman said. “This is just June. We still have another 90 days (of summer) to go. It's going to take a lot of rain to get that water into the ground. If you don't have to have a new lawn, put it off for a little while.”